Review of Aegean Paradise

Aegean Paradise cruise ship was originally built as passenger ferry vessel (launched in January 1990) for the Shin Nihonkai Ferry Company. In 2005, the vessel was refitted into a 3-stars-rated cruise ship and named "Orient Venus". In 2012, it started cruise shipping operations for "Japan Cruise Line" under its current name "Aegean Paradise".

In September 2005, the ship was sold to First Cruise Line and renamed to "Cruise One". The next year, it was reconstructed and refurbished extensively to a four-star pleasure vessel. Its design was significantly modified from the original. In April 2007, the cruise ship was chartered to the German line Delphin Kreuzfahrten and received a new name again - "Delphin Voyager". After changing shipowners several times, the Aegean Paradise ship was chartered for the 2012 summer to the Turkish tour operator Etstur and received her current name. Between 2012-2015, Aegean Paradise itinerary program offered Greek islands cruises (in the eastern Meditteranean) with roundtrp departures from Turkey (Izmir and Istanbul ports).

Following Delphin Kreuzfarhten's bankruptcy in 2010, the vessel eventually was acquired by Hainan Cruise and started operations under the name "Hainan Empress". In 2011, it was chartered by Happy Cruises under the name "Happy Dolphin". After Happy Cruises' collapse in March 2012, the ship was chartered by Etstur (tour operator based in Turkey) as "Aegean Paradise".

On July 25, 2015, the Hong Kong-based company "New Century Maritime" entered into a memorandum of agreement to purchase the cruise ship from Hainan Cruise. In the end of 2015, Aegean Paradise was sold to Kingston Maritime (New Century Maritime's wholly-owned subsidiary) at the price of USD 23 million. An independent firm providing ship valuation services had valued the vessel at USD 27 million.

The acquisition gave New Century Maritime's fleet a 3rd cruise vessel, along with Leisure World and Amusement World. Aegean Paradise was delivered to Kingston Maritime in Singapore (at ST Marine Ltd Shipyard) for refit and refurbishment. New Century Maritime operates Aegean Paradise as "casino ship" cruising off Batam Island (Indonesia).

The Chinese shipping company New Century Maritime acquired the ship in July 2015 for USD 22,9 million. The vessel was bought from another Chinese company - Hainan Cruise & Enterprises Shipping. The vessel was acquired by Kingston Maritime (wholly owned subsidiary of New Century Group Hong Kong Ltd).

On July 27, 2015 Aegean Paradise collided with a vessel of the Greek Coast Guard fleet. The incident happened near Chios Island. No injuries were reported. The coast guard ship, which was carrying 25 migrants, suffered hull damage. The collision was due to misty conditions.